“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” - Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

In recent days there have been increasing instances of lives around us suddenly going. Sometimes there are cases of COVID-19 but also accidents do happen. It is one thing to see a person full of life but to lose the same person in a matter of hours can be more than devastating. Perhaps by nursing the person long before one could have come around with the idea of life going, which is not the case with such sudden death.

Much as medical science has advanced and with good care of our bodies now we can see in some nations like Japan the centenarian population edging towards 70,000, on the whole the words of scripture remain true, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. Soon they disappear, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

Life is a gift from God. As Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." On one hand it is tempting to feel one has all the power with life but in reality our control is very much limited.

King Solomon once wrote, “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them-for this is their lot” (Ecclesiastes 5:18). We should enjoy life where we have it. Later he concludes his long reflection with an enduring advice, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This we do, because, all of our life belongs to Him.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God, creator of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the gift of life, and may I cherish it, as a treasure, for only you know the number of my days, which all belong to you!